Do Not Worry
Have you ever caught yourself worrying over something that was out of your control? For instance, worrying about the possibility of a car accident, worrying about getting a new job, getting into the ideal college or making ends meet. I used to worry about things that "might" or "could" happen. My brain was focused on possible negatives rather than possible positives. It would bring me to tears, thinking about what could go wrong.
I remember when I drove my first-born to his first doctor's appointment. He was only a few days old and I was a nervous wreck! Driving around such precious cargo, thinking about what could happen on the road. I sang Jesus Loves Me the entire car ride. Singing and praying for safety and protection over myself and my baby is a wonderful thing, but I was full of fear.
The enemy sure knows how to get us stirred up. He can whisper a reminder of something someone did to you 10 years ago and you can spend a week being bitter, cranky and mad at everyone around you because of your thoughts. Worry is basically telling God that He isn't big enough to handle our problems or concerns. Worry can cause physical symptoms including headaches, muscle aches, twitching, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and so forth. What good is it to sit around and worry about the things of this life? I love in Matthew where the scripture describes how much more God cares for us than the birds of the air, yet they don't worry and He takes care of them.
Many times we can worry about things that work themselves out. We worry because we feel a false sense of "I have to figure this out myself," and we weren't created or designed to figure it all out. That's why we can cast our cares and trust in God! We must do what we know to do in the natural and then God will put His super on it and you can see the supernatural take place. For example, you work a full time job, you take care of your family, you are a tither and a giver, you don't waste money on things you don't need and you are struggling to make ends meet. Well as long as you are doing what is right with your finances and honoring God, He will meet the needs for you. We cannot go out and spend our paycheck on useless wants, rob God, then expect someone else to pay for our needs. Do what you know to do, what is right, and do it with excellence. Then stand firm knowing that your Creator will take care of you! If you don't get what you expected, praise Him for it, because He has a better plan in mind. You can't go wrong, choosing to trust in Him!
Ephesians 6:13 (AMP) Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].
Philippians 4:6-9 (MSG) Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG) “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
